Senior recreational activities including fitness classes, games and social gatherings to resume once the Community and Senior Centers reopen
BATTLE GROUND — The Battle Ground Community and Senior Centers, typically filled with people and activity, have been temporarily closed to public use since mid-March when emergency orders required it.
The facilities serve as places where people of all ages connect at community gatherings, commemorate life events, where service organizations meet, and where a variety of recreational and social activities occur.
The Meals on Wheels People organization, who for several years has leased the Community Center kitchen to serve weekday lunches to seniors, recently notified city officials that they are terminating their lease and moving from the facility.
A press release from the organization states, “Meals on Wheels People’s Battle Ground Center will relocate from the Battle Ground Community Center to a new site in North Vancouver.”
“For the health and safety of our diners and volunteers, we closed all of our dining centers throughout the Portland-Vancouver area in mid-March,” said Meals on Wheels CEO Suzanne Washington. “Because we work with a population that is especially susceptible to the effects of COVID-19, we do not plan to reopen our dining rooms until we can ensure it is safe to do so.”
Battle Ground’s seniors are a vital part of the community and have used the Community and Senior Centers regularly for a variety of fitness classes, games, recreational activities, and social gatherings. These activities, not related to the Meals on Wheels organization, are scheduled to resume when the facilities reopen.
“We are sad that Meals on Wheels chose to leave the Community Center,” said Mattie Buckmiller, Battle Ground’s Recreation and Facilities supervisor, “we are, however, in contact with senior groups and organizations, even during the closure, to develop even more social opportunities for seniors for when our doors reopen.”
A timeline for reopening the Community and Senior Centers is unknown and dependent on Governor Inslee’s Safe Start plan. The city has planned for the future reopening with protocols in place to ensure a safe gathering place for seniors and users of all ages.
When the Community Center reopens, users will be welcomed to a facility with a fresh look. The city has taken the opportunity to perform maintenance during the closure. Floors have been refinished, windows cleaned, a fresh coat of paint is being applied to both the interior and exterior of the building, and new stain to the exterior wood beams and finishes.
“It will be a wonderful day when we open our doors again,” expressed Buckmiller, “the Battle Ground Community and Senior Centers provide a place for caring connections for seniors and for the larger community.”
Information provided by city of Battle Ground.
